Help & FAQ's

Q) I have never made an internet purchase before, how do I buy online?A) Making a purchase could not be easier. Just select the items you wish to buy by clicking on the button "Add to Basket" you can then use the "Continue Shopping" button to return to the site and continue to explore this wonderful world of jewellery.
As you add items to your shopping basket, you can check just how much your selected goods add up to by clicking on the "Update Cart" button underneath the jewellery you have chosen. Don't worry if you have put too much in the basket and cannot afford it all. You can delete items as you go along, before you make your final purchase. In fact it is easier to add all the items you like to your shopping basket and then delete those you decide not to buy.
After you have finished your selection, click on 'Checkout' and you will be asked for a few details that we need to be able to compete your order.

Q) How can I be sure my Credit Card details are safe?A) We know of no documented cases of credit card fraud using our shopping system over the internet. All credit card numbers are encrypted in the software when the order is placed using 128 bit encryption. When you shop on the internet you can check to see that you are entering a secure part of the site by looking at the address bar on your browser, you will see that the web address has changed slightly and now begin with https: instead of http: Jewellery of the Planet uses Sage Pay (a highly respected payment Service Provider) to process your credit card details, this means that we cannot see your credit card details, nor are we able to store them. No-one can see your credit card details except you. This means we have achieved information security compliance under European legislation, you will see the "Trustwave" logo on the bottom of each of our web pages verifying this.

Q) Will you keep my address details private?A) Jewellery of the Planet does not disclose your information to third parties. For more information about this please see our Privacy Policy.
Q) Why do you not accept orders by telephone or fax?A) This is because we are committed to secure and accurate order processing. Ordering over a secure site is the quickest and safest way of processing your order. We do not take telephone orders because only by receiving customer's orders through our shopping cart can we be certain that orders are processed accurately. In addition to this we do not record or see our customer's credit card details as it is all handled securely via the shopping cart facility.

Q) Are the sizes and weights mentioned on your web-site exact?A) The weight of every item on our site is detailed in the individual item description. The length & circumference has been included where applicable. It is normal that all weights & measurements for ethnic jewellery are approximate. If you need more information on a particular item please do not hesitate to contact us.
To use the words of one of our most trusted suppliers:
"since all items are hand-made, it is impossible to create two of the same exactly. Therefore the sizes and weights shown are approximate and can only be used as an indication".

Q) How long will I have to wait for my jewellery?A) We aim to dispatch all goods within 4 days. In the unlikely event this is not possible you will be notified of any delays by email. Please see Delivery Information for details of anticipated delivery times.

Q) What if I don't like the jewellery I have ordered?A) If your jewellery is faulty or substandard in any way we operate a 14 Day no quibble money back guarantee. If you find you simply do not like the piece you have ordered then we have a very reasonable Returns Policy. Such jewellery may be returned if unworn and undamaged for a full refund. We are unable to exchange or refund earrings or body (pierced) jewellery for hygienic reasons. Please see Returns for further details.

Q) How much do you charge for postage and packing?A) Our shipping costs are very competitive and if you are ordering to a United Kingdom delivery address are free for orders over £10. Please see delivery information for more details.

Q) Do your prices include Value Added Tax?A) If you are purchasing from the UK or the European Union VAT has been paid for you @ 20%. Countries outside the EU will not incur this charge. Because we pay the VAT for you where applicable, it does not matter where you live in the world, the product price displayed will be the one you pay, there are no hidden extras. All shipping costs include VAT at the current applicable rate, this is not refundable.
Please remember if you are ordering a large number of items that your home country will have import regulations and that you as the buyer will be responsible for any tax and duty levied by the import authorities in your country.

Q) Do you provide a gift wrapping service?A) All our jewellery comes in its own beautiful jewellery of the planet bag or box; we leave it to our customers to add the finishing touches!

Q) How can I be sure that an item comes from a specific country when it has been mailed from the United Kingdom?A) Although we would love you to receive a little parcel post-marked from the country of your choice, we insist on importing from that country and inspecting each piece on its arrival in the UK. By doing this we can verify the source of supply, the quality of the item and have some control over our delivery promises. We never buy from wholesalers where the country of origin cannot be verified.
Q) How do I find out more about the country of origin?A) You can click through to an interesting site called www.worldatlas.com. You can see on a map of the world where your chosen country is located and find out some basic information about this part of the world.

Q) What is the difference between Crystal and Glass?A) Crystal contains lead in some quantity, glass either does not or contains very little. The make-up of crystal differs from country to country. According to European Union rules, glass goods containing less than 4% lead are defined as "glass". Goods containing more than 10% lead are defined as "crystal", and goods containing more than 30% lead are defined as "highly leaded crystal". Leaded crystal means crystal containing more than 24% lead oxide.
In the USA it is the opposite - glass is defined as "crystal" if it contains only 1% lead. In the Czech Republic, the term "crystal" is used to describe any high quality glass.
The presence of lead in crystal softens the glass and increases the weight and enables the craftsman to cut highly accurate bevels and edges which in turn allow the jewellery to reflect the light better. This is why crystal sparkles so brightly!

Q) What is the content of your silver?A) All the silver jewellery that we sell is .925, this is also known as Sterling Silver, this means that the item contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Most of the items of silver we sell are Sterling and the jewellery is stamped in an inconspicuous place such as the back of the item or the clasp with the number 925. Where the silver content is not verified jewellery will not carry the .925 stamp.

Q) Do you sell jewellery which is made of pure silver?A) No, pure silver, like pure gold, is too soft to use to make jewellery; this is why it is mixed with 7.5% copper.

Q) Does your pewter jewellery contain any lead?A) No, pewter containing lead is no longer used in items that will come in contact with the human body (such as tableware or jewellery) and Jewellery of the Planet sells only pewter with a lead free content that is safe to wear. Modern pewter is made completely lead free, a typical pewter alloy contains 94% tin, 1% copper, and 5% antimony. Q) My ears are very sensitive to some metals, are your earrings hypoallergenic?A) Most of our earrings have sterling silver fastenings. Where this is not the case we clearly state this. Peruvian Alpaca silver for example contains a small amount of nickel and some ears (although not all) are sensitive to this metal. Earrings which have a fixed post and stud cannot be altered so easily and if in the event the item is not made of sterling silver and your ears are sensitive we urge caution before ordering.

Q) Why does silver sometimes become black?A) Silver reacts with sunlight and hydrogen sulphides (found in the air of industrial cities) to form a very fine layer of silver sulphide. Without regular cleaning, this will eventually start to darken all silver jewellery.

Q) How can I clean my silver?A) Polish your silver jewellery gently with a soft cloth. If necessary, you can also use a quality jewellery cleaning solution. If you don't intend to wear your silver jewellery for a long time, it is best to keep it inside an airtight plastic bag.
Q) How do I clean and take care of my jewellery in general?A) Your jewellery should be stored safely in a soft cloth or suedette pouch. Keeping your items separated, so that they do not become tangled is important to prevent bending, breaking or scratching. It is not a good idea to wear your jewellery when you are gardening, cleaning, or playing sport. Swimming in either a pool or the sea can be particularly damaging because of the chlorine or salt content.
Always fix your make-up and hair before you put on your jewellery, this way you are less likely to damage it with perfume, hairspray, nail polish remover or any other beauty products. Cleaning products or garden chemicals can ruin jewellery. Pearls, Turquoise and Opal are all porous stones and should not come in contact with perfume, jewellery cleaning solutions or be immersed in water for long periods of time.
Clean your jewellery on a regular basis, using a professional jewellery-cleaning product, (always follow the manufacturer's instructions). Or (excluding Pearls, Turquoise and Opal) brush in ordinary warm soapy water using an old soft toothbrush to remove grease and dirt and make it look like new. Try the toothbrush on your face first; if it is too rough for your face then it is too rough for your jewellery!
Sterling silver can be gently polished by buffing it with a soft cloth lightly dipped in a quality jewellery solution. Never use a cream silver polish which requires drying before polishing off. This will clog and block the intricate design of your jewellery. When cleaning a piece that mixes silver with other natural materials such as stone, bone and leather, be careful to wipe only the silver part of the piece with the impregnated cloth. If you store silver jewellery in airtight plastic bags, it will be less prone to tarnishing.

Q) So many sites have disclaimers, why is this?A) We work hard to make the contents of our website correct in every way; however we are 'only' human too, so please understand that typing mistakes or other errors can occasionally occur. We import from all over the world and do not manufacture anything ourselves, thus we reserve the right to change any information or prices without prior notice.
By placing an order with Jewellery of the Planet you are agreeing to the implied and express terms as listed above. Your statutory rights are not affected.